The area of land sown to crops has more than doubled in the past 40 years, reflecting improved plant genetics, greater variety in plant species, increased mechanisation and fertiliser use, as well as better control of pests and diseases in Australia. Table 14.11 shows the area of crops in the states and territories of Australia since 1880-81, and table 14.12 is a summary of the area, production and gross value of the principal crops in the most recent years.

In Australia, cereals are divided into autumn-winter-spring growing (winter cereals) and spring-summer-autumn growing (summer cereals). In temperate regions winter cereals such as wheat, oats, barley and rye are often grown in rotation with pastures, such as subterranean clover, medics or lucerne, and with other winter crops such as canola, field peas and lupins. Rice, maize and sorghum are summer cereals, often being grown in rotation with winter cereals in some areas.

Wheat

Wheat is Australia's largest crop. It is produced in all states but primarily on the mainland in a narrow crescent known as the wheat belt. Inland of the Great Dividing Range, the wheat belt stretches in a curve from central Queensland through New South Wales, Victoria and southern South Australia. In Western Australia, the wheat belt continues around the south west of the state and some way north, along the western side of the continent (see map S14.1).

Most of Australia's wheat is exported for human consumption. A small proportion of production is used domestically for human consumption, with lower quality grain being used for domestic stock feed.

New varieties of wheat have enabled it to be grown in more marginal areas in recent years. In particular the development of dual purpose winter wheat varieties which, like oats, allow grazing of the plant up to a few months prior to harvest, have become very popular in some areas.

While severe drought conditions across Australia more than halved wheat production in 2002-03, increased plantings and an improved season resulted in a record production of 26.1 million tonnes in 2003-04 (table 14.13). The largest increases occurred in Western Australia where production rose just over 7 million tonnes to 11.1 million tonnes and New South Wales where production almost tripled to 7.3 million tonnes. Graph 14.14 shows that variability in wheat yields is a part of life for wheat growers, with dry periods, and less commonly, floods, resulting in significant falls in production approximately every ten years over the past 100 years.

The article The Australian wheat industry traces the development of the industry since European settlement and provides details relating to its recent performance.

14.13 WHEAT FOR GRAIN, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.(a)

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

3,174

949

1,139

1,762

4,515

4

11,543

1999-2000

3,425

1,235

1,096

1,850

4,556

6

12,168

2000-01

3,671

1,143

885

1,976

4,460

7

12,141

2001-02

3,446

1,136

604

1,987

4,350

6

11,529

2002-03

2,995

1,239

514

1,957

4,458

7

11,170

2003-04

3,983

1,409

790

1,960

4,917

8

13,067

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

6,563

1,462

1,941

3,310

8,170

18

21,465

1999-2000

8,602

2,642

1,904

2,586

9,004

20

24,757

2000-01

7,867

3,080

1,157

4,162

5,814

26

22,108

2001-02

8,043

2,791

901

4,778

7,760

25

24,299

2002-03

2,495

890

601

2,072

4,047

25

10,132

2003-04

7,288

3,145

1,110

3,490

11,070

26

26,132

(a) Includes ACT.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Oats

Oats are traditionally grown in moist, temperate regions. However, in recent years improved varieties and management practices have enabled oats to be grown over a wider range of soil and climatic conditions. Oats have a high fodder feed value and, with the exception of recently developed dual purpose varieties of wheat, produce a greater bulk of growth than other winter cereals. They need less cultivation, and respond well to superphosphates and nitrogen. Oats have two main uses - as a grain crop, and as a fodder crop. Fodder crops can either be grazed in the initial stages of growth and then locked up for a period prior to harvesting for grain, or else mown and baled for hay or cut for chaff.

The majority of Australian oats harvested for grain is used domestically for stock feed purposes. A small proportion of high quality grain is used for human consumption. A small proportion of grain production is exported for human consumption.

In 2003-04 the total area of oats planted increased by 20% to 1.1 million hectares (table 14.15). This was the fourth year of increased planting. Production more than doubled to 2.0 million tonnes following the drought conditions of 2002-03. The largest producers were Western Australia, up 58% to 752,000 tonnes, New South Wales whereproduction quadrupled to 610,000 tonnes and Victoriawhere production doubled to 507,000 tonnes.

14.15 OATS FOR GRAIN, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.(a)

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

354

188

18

112

228

8

909

1999-2000

160

138

10

70

199

6

584

2000-01

168

140

13

75

248

7

650

2001-02

231

142

^11

^108

287

6

784

2002-03

308

188

*9

88

314

4

911

2003-04

449

194

*9

89

344

4

1,089

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

669

458

15

178

463

14

1,798

1999-2000

284

296

12

78

439

10

1,118

2000-01

246

351

6

117

317

13

1,050

2001-02

320

334

^7

^203

557

12

1,434

2002-03

149

250

^4

70

477

7

957

2003-04

610

507

*5

137

752

7

2,018

(a) Includes ACT.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Barley

This cereal contains two main groups of varieties, 2-row and 6-row (the number of rows referring to the number of rows of seed on each stalk). The former is generally, but not exclusively, preferred for malting purposes. Barley is grown principally as a grain crop, although in some areas it is used as a fodder crop for grazing, with grain being subsequently harvested if conditions are suitable. It is often grown as a rotation crop with wheat, oats and pasture. As barley has a short growing period, it may provide quick grazing or timely fodder supplies when other sources are not available. Barley grain may be crushed to meal for stock feed or sold for malting.

The total area of barley planted increased by 16% to 4.5 million hectares in 2003-04 (table 14.16).The largest areas planted were in Western Australia (1.3 million hectares) and South Australia (1.2 million hectares). Improved yields, combined with the increase in area planted, saw total production reach a record level of 10.4 million tonnes. The largest producers were Western Australia, more than doubling to 3.2 million tonnes, South Australia, up 87% to 2.7 million tonnes, and Victoria, increasing almost five times to 2.3 million tonnes.

14.16BARLEY FOR GRAIN, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

638

568

163

975

811

11

3,167

1999-2000

476

585

130

845

550

9

2,596

2000-01

615

693

112

1,041

983

10

3,454

2001-02

665

700

96

1,151

1,088

7

3,707

2002-03

636

778

108

1,194

1,140

8

3,864

2003-04

951

872

151

1,216

1,278

9

4,477

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

1,247

870

320

2,051

1,469

30

5,987

1999-2000

1,040

1,189

254

1,409

1,117

22

5,032

2000-01

1,253

1,670

115

2,320

1,358

26

6,743

2001-02

1,382

1,656

171

2,782

2,263

26

8,280

2002-03

428

478

148

1,440

1,349

21

3,865

2003-04

1,955

2,275

263

2,691

3,170

28

10,382

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Grain sorghum

The sorghums are summer growing crops which are used in a number of ways: grain sorghum for grain; sweet or fodder sorghum, Sudan grass and Columbus grass for silage, green feed and grazing; and broom millet for brooms and brushware. However, the grain is used primarily as stockfeed and is an important source for supplementing other coarse grains for this purpose.

In 2003-04 grain sorghum was the fourth biggest cereal crop (in terms of production) despite it only being grown in significant quantities in Queensland and New South Wales (table 14.17). Queensland produced 65% of the total harvest of 2,009,000 tonnes in 2003-04.

14.17 GRAIN SORGHUM, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

216

**

367

-

*2

-

587

1999-2000

200

*1

419

(a)

*2

(a)

622

2000-01

258

2

494

(a)

2

(a)

758

2001-02

258

**

562

(a)

**

(a)

823

2002-03

255

**

405

(a)

**

(a)

667

2003-04

212

**

519

(a)

*1

(a)

734

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

822

**

1,059

-

*6

-

1,891

1999-2000

804

**

1,308

(a)

*2

(a)

2,116

2000-01

770

4

1,156

(a)

4

(a)

1,935

2001-02

767

*4

1,247

(a)

**

(a)

2,021

2002-03

^531

**

930

(a)

**

(a)

1,465

2003-04

709

**

1,296

(a)

*1

(a)

2,009

(a) Data not collected.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Maize

Maize is a summer cereal requiring specific soil and climatic conditions. The majority of maize used for grain is grown in the south-east and Atherton Tablelands regions of Queensland, and the north coast, northern slopes and tablelands, and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area regions in New South Wales. Small amounts are grown for green feed and silage in association with the dairy industry.

In 2003-04 maize grain production increased by 27% to 395,000 tonnes (table 14.18).

14.18 MAIZE FOR GRAIN, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.(a)

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

27

1

37

**

*-

-

64

1999-2000

22

1

59

(b)

*-

(b)

82

2000-01

26

1

47

(b)

*-

(b)

74

2001-02

28

*1

53

(b)

**

(b)

83

2002-03

^21

*1

^28

(b)

-

(b)

50

2003-04

22

**

^48

(b)

-

(b)

70

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

186

3

145

**

*4

-

338

1999-2000

178

4

224

(b)

*-

(b)

406

2000-01

178

8

159

(b)

*-

(b)

345

2001-02

246

*9

198

(b)

*-

(b)

454

2002-03

^163

*15

^131

(b)

-

(b)

310

2003-04

178

**

^211

(b)

-

(b)

^395

(a) Includes NT.

(b) Data not collected.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Rice

Almost all of Australia's rice is grown in New South Wales, with production centred in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Rice production is dependent on supplies of irrigation water and, therefore, is significantly affected by reductions in irrigation water allocations available to farmers.

In 2003-04, rice production increased by 26% to 553,000 tonnes but this new level is still less than half the pre-drought production of 2001-02 (table 14.19).

14.19 RICE FOR GRAIN, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

148

1

-

-

-

-

148

1999-2000

131

(a)

(a)

(a)

**

(a)

131

2000-01

175

2

(a)

(a)

*-

(a)

177

2001-02

143

^2

(a)

(a)

-

(a)

144

2002-03

45

**

(a)

(a)

-

(a)

46

2003-04

66

**

(a)

(a)

-

(a)

66

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

1,357

5

-

-

-

-

1,362

1999-2000

1,084

(a)

(a)

(a)

**

(a)

1,084

2000-01

1,625

18

(a)

(a)

*-

(a)

1,643

2001-02

1,179

*14

(a)

(a)

-

(a)

1,192

2002-03

435

**

(a)

(a)

-

(a)

438

2003-04

550

*3

(a)

(a)

-

(a)

553

(a) Data not collected.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

Vegetables

Australia produces an extremely wide variety of vegetables, partly as a result of the varied tastes of the cosmopolitan population. Many vegetables, such as spring onions, mushrooms and fresh tomatoes are grown close to major capital cities, taking advantage of proximity to markets and low transport costs. However, the majority of vegetables are produced in the major irrigation areas of each state and territory, where access to land and water are the key drivers of investment.

In 2003-04 the area sown to vegetables was 125,500 ha, an increase of 4% from the previous year. Potatoes were by far the largest vegetable crop in terms of area and production, accounting for 29% of the total area of vegetables planted in 2003-04 (tables 14.20 and 14.21). Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania together produced three quarters of the national potato crop in 2003-04. Tasmania accounted for almost all green pea production, producing 96% of the national crop, or 28,500 tonnes in 2003-04.

14.20 SELECTED VEGETABLES, Area

French and
runner beans

Carrots

Onions

Green
peas

Lettuces

Potatoes

Pumpkins

Tomatoes

All
vegetables

’000 ha

'000 ha

’000 ha

’000 ha

'000 ha

'000 ha

’000 ha

’000 ha

'000 ha

1998-99

5.9

6.5

5.4

6.2

6.2

41.3

7.5

8.5

130.2

1999-2000

6.6

7.0

5.3

5.5

5.2

36.8

9.0

8.3

127.4

2000-01

6.6

8.0

5.0

5.8

5.8

39.6

8.3

9.6

137.1

2001-02

6.6

7.7

5.5

6.0

6.0

37.9

6.5

8.5

131.7

2002-03

^7.0

7.4

5.3

5.5

6.1

35.9

6.6

7.3

121.2

2003-04

7.1

7.2

5.6

5.7

6.1

36.1

5.9

8.5

125.5

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

14.21 SELECTED VEGETABLES, Production

French and
runner beans

Carrots

Onions

Green peas(shelled weight)

Lettuces

Potatoes

Pumpkins

Tomatoes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

’000 tonnes

1998-99

30.4

256.6

224.0

29.9

131.1

1,326.8

87.6

394.4

1999-2000

34.5

283.3

247.1

30.4

151.9

1,199.6

108.8

413.6

2000-01

32.8

320.9

221.9

26.2

152.7

1,302.1

109.4

556.2

2001-02

33.7

331.1

282.5

28.4

135.0

1,333.2

96.3

425.0

2002-03

34.6

305.7

228.6

27.4

121.5

1,247.3

93.2

364.4

2003-04

31.1

302.6

233.4

29.7

127.2

1,310.4

94.6

474.2

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Fruit (excluding grapes)

A wide variety of fruit is grown in Australia, ranging from pineapples, mangoes and pawpaws in the tropics to pome, stone and berry fruits in temperate regions. Table 14.22 shows the number of trees for the main types of orchard fruit, and the area under cultivation for bananas and pineapples.

The most significant crops in terms of gross value of production are apples, bananas and oranges. Production of bananas, which occurs mainly in coastal Queensland, fell 3% in 2003-04 to 257,200 tonnes. In 2003-04 the grossvalue of the apple crop decreased 3% to $367 million (m) (table 14.23).

14.22 SELECTED FRUIT, Number of trees(a) and area

Orchard fruit

Area of tropical fruit

Apples

Apricots

Oranges

Peaches

Pears

Plums
and prunes

Bananas

Pineapples

All area of
fruit and nuts (excluding grapes)

’000 trees

'000 trees

’000 trees

’000 trees

’000 trees

'000 trees

ha

ha

ha

1998-99

5,969

565

6,400

1,509

1,401

1,024

11,405

2,821

145,265

1999-2000

6,115

520

6,945

1,972

1,401

1,420

11,730

2,817

154,049

2000-01

6,455

498

6,669

1,674

1,373

1,328

11,737

2,733

170,545

2001-02

8,070

^411

6,767

1,587

1,312

1,325

12,583

2,963

161,439

2002-03

8,391

^440

7,129

^2,150

1,306

1,470

10,659

2,616

174,123

2003-04

8,885

^478

6,814

1,877

1,386

1,450

10,861

2,664

172,507

(a) Refers to trees of bearing age (i.e. four years and over for apples, six years and over for other fruit).

Grapes are a temperate crop requiring predominantly winter rainfall and warm to hot summer conditions for ripening. Almost all grape production in Australia depends on irrigation water as a supplement to rainfall. An absence of late-spring frosts is essential if the loss of the developing fruit is to be prevented. Grapes are grown for winemaking, drying, and to a lesser extent, for table use. Some of the better known grape producing areas are the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Riverland, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra in South Australia; Sunraysia and the Yarra Valley in Victoria; the Hunter and Riverina in New South Wales; the Swan Valley and Margaret River in Western Australia; and the Tamar Valley and Coal River Valley in Tasmania.

The gross value of grape production for 2003-04 increased by 23% from the previous year, to $1,689m.Tables 14.24 and 14.25 show the area of vines and the quantity of grapes produced.

The oilseeds industry is a relatively young industry by Australian agricultural standards. The specialist oilseed crops grown include sunflower, soybeans, canola and safflower. Sunflower and soybeans are summer crops while the others are winter crops. In Australia, oilseeds are crushed for their oil, which is used for edible and industrial purposes, and for protein meals for livestock feeds.

The 1990s saw the emergence of canola as the main oilseed crop, with production increasing from around 70,000 tonnes in 1990-91 to a high of 2.8 million tonnes in 1999-2000. With canola accounting for 93% of the crop, oilseeds production in 2003-04 of 1.8 million tonnes was double the previous year's drought affected harvest (table 14.26). Before the emergence of canola, the main specialist oilseed crop was sunflower seed. Peanuts and cotton are also major sources of oil as a by-product to their main outputs, which are food and fibre respectively.

14.26 OILSEEDS, Area and production

NSW

Vic.

Qld

SA

WA

Tas.

Aust.(a)

AREA (’000 ha)

1998-99

496

222

145

136

537

1

1,538

1999-2000

613

319

143

216

879

*1

2,172

2000-01

569

266

79

157

517

-

1,589

2001-02

585

241

^60

165

394

^1

1,447

2002-03

514

248

^28

214

349

^-

1,355

2003-04

411

242

^58

250

358

-

1,321

PRODUCTION (’000 tonnes)

1998-99

793

268

166

196

615

1

2,039

1999-2000

968

438

151

249

963

*2

2,770

2000-01

894

383

73

206

353

-

1,910

2001-02

796

349

^52

273

419

^1

1,890

2002-03

201

177

^17

211

299

-

907

2003-04

507

386

^51

355

527

-

1,827

(a) Includes ACT.

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Cotton

Cotton is grown mainly in inland areas of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, primarily for its fibre (lint), and relies heavily on irrigation water to produce profitable yields. When the cotton is mature, seed cotton is taken to a gin where it is separated (ginned) into cotton lint and cotton seed. The lint is used for yarn while the cotton seed is further processed at an oil mill, where the short fibres (linters) remaining on the cotton seed after ginning are removed. These fibres are too short to make into cloth, but are used for wadding, upholstery and paper. The seeds are then separated into kernels and hulls. The hulls are used for stock feed and as fertiliser, while the kernels are crushed to extract oil. The oilcake residue (crushed kernels) is ground into meal, which is a protein roughage, and is used as a stock feed.

The estimated gross value of cotton lint and cotton seed in 2003-04 was $751m a 12% decrease from the previous year (table 14.27).

To counter Australia's seasonal conditions and unreliable rainfall, many farmers use hay and silage as methods of fodder conservation to supplement pasture and other natural sources of stockfeed.

Considerable areas are devoted to fodder crops and sown pastures, which are either used for grazing (as green feed) or harvested and conserved as hay or silage (table 14.28).

14.28 CROPS AND PASTURES CUT FOR HAY OR SILAGE, Area and production

Hay

Silage made

Area

Production

Production

'000 ha

'000 tonnes

'000 tonnes

1998-99

1,568

6,245

2,770

1999-2000

1,373

5,331

2,981

2000-01

1,521

6,433

2,960

2001-02

1,416

5,864

2,966

2002-03

1,299

4,913

2,549

2003-04

1,688

7,663

3,757

Source: Agricultural Commodities, Australia (7121.0).

Sugar

Sugar cane is grown commercially in Australia along the east coast over a distance of some 2,100 kilometres in a number of areas from Maclean in northern New South Wales to Mossman in Queensland. More recently, it has also been grown in Western Australia.

About 90% of production occurs in Queensland (table 14.29), with 75% of the crop grown north of the Tropic of Capricorn.